Electronic dartboard device

ABSTRACT

An electronic dartboard device includes: a frame including at least one accommodating space; at least one target block movably disposed in the accommodating space; a limiting member including a limiting portion and at least one fixing portion disposed around the limiting portion, the limiting member detachably assembled to the frame through the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers the opening of the accommodating space; and a mounting seat including a sensing circuit and detachably assembled to the frame and located at a second surface of the limiting portion. When an external force is applied to the target block and forces the target block to contact the first surface of the limiting portion opposite to the second surface, the sensing circuit detects a contact position of the target block on the limiting portion.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an entertainment device, and moreparticularly to an electronic dartboard device.

Related Prior Art

Most dart throwing activities or competitions are performed using simplesolid dartboard (such as sisal dartboard) or electronic dartboard.During the dart throwing activities using solid dartboards, usersusually need to calculate the scores themselves, which causesinconvenience to the users. Therefore, electronic dartboards havegradually replaced solid dartboards.

Most electronic dart machines are usually provided with multiple targetblocks and one or more electronic components in the dartboard. When theplayer throws the dart at the dartboard, the dart will hit one of thetarget blocks, and the electronic component corresponding to theposition where the target block is hit will sense the position of thedart by the induction principle, such as electromagnetic induction orpressure sensing, etc, so as to calculate the player's score.

However, when the target blocks need to be replaced, for most of theexisting electronic dart machines, it requires to open the cabinet coverfrom the rear of the electronic dart machine, take out the dartboardafter removing the base and electronic components of the dartboard, andthen dissemble the dartboard to take out the target blocks that need tobe replaced. Therefore, in the process of replacing the target blocks,not only it takes a lot of time, but also the target blocks will dropduring the process of disassembling the dartboard, and even theelectronic component is easily damaged by being touched by foreignobjects.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to provide an electronicdartboard device that is easy to maintain, and the internal componentsthereof are less likely to be damaged by foreign objects.

To achieve the above objective, an electronic dartboard device inaccordance with the present invention comprises: a frame including atleast one accommodating space with an opening; at least one target blockmovably disposed in the at least one accommodating space; a limitingmember including a limiting portion and at least one fixing portiondisposed around the limiting portion, wherein the limiting portionincludes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the firstsurface, and the limiting member is detachably assembled to the framethrough the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers theopening, thereby restricting the at least one target block within the atleast one accommodating space; and a mounting seat detachably assembledto the frame and located at the second surface of the limiting portion,and the mounting seat including a sensing circuit configured to detect acontact position of the at least one target block on the limitingportion when an external force is applied to the at least one targetblock and forces the at least one target block to contact the firstsurface of the limiting portion.

In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion is sleeve-shapedand surrounds the limiting portion.

In another embodiment, the number of the fixing portions is plural, andthese fixing portions are separated from each other by a distance andsurround the limiting portion.

In another embodiment, each of the fixing portions is provided with ahole, the frame includes a surface facing the limiting member and aplurality of pins on the surface, and the pins respectively correspondto the holes and are respectively configured to insert into the holes ofthe fixing portions, so that the limiting member is detachably assembledto the frame.

In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion includes asurface for contacting the frame, and the surface is a plane.

In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion includes asurface for contacting the frame, the surface is provided with at leastone projection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled tothe frame, the projection abuts against the frame.

In another embodiment, the frame includes a surface for contacting atleast one fixing portion, and the surface is provided with at least oneprojection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to theframe, the projection abuts against the at least one fixing portion.

In another embodiment, the frame includes a first surface for contactingthe at least one fixing portion, the at least one fixing portionincludes a second surface for contacting the frame, the first surface ofthe frame includes a first engaging structure, the second surface of thefixing portion includes a second engaging structure which corresponds toand matches the first engaging structure, and when the first engagingstructure is detachably connected to the second engaging structure, thelimiting member is detachably assembled to the frame.

In another embodiment, at least one of the limiting member and the atleast one fixing member is made of elastic material.

In another embodiment, the frame includes a main frame portion and asupport portion connected to the main frame portion, the at least oneaccommodating space is located in the main frame portion, the limitingmember is detachably assembled to the main frame portion by the at leastone fixing portion, and the support portion is detachably assembled tothe mounting seat.

The limiting member of the electronic dartboard device of the inventionis detachably assembled to the frame, so that the limiting member cancover the openings of the accommodating spaces of the frame foraccommodating the target blocks to prevent the target blocks fromfalling off of the frame when the target blocks are being taken out.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of an electronic dartboard device accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a part of a first assembly assembled bythe frame, the target blocks and the limiting member in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the firstassembly in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a part of the first assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of an electronic dartboard deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention, which is usedto show a cross-section of a first assembly formed by the frame, thetarget block and the limiting member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of an electronic dartboard deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention, which is usedto show a cross-section of a first assembly formed by the frame, thetarget block and the limiting member;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a part of a first assembly assembled bythe frame, the target blocks, and the limiting member in an electronicdartboard device according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a part of an electronicdartboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention,showing that a dart is thrown at a specific position on the electronicdartboard device; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a part of an electronic dartboard deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, showing that thesecond assembly that has been assembled is mounted to the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be clearer from the following descriptionwhen viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, forpurpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordancewith the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 3 and 7, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides an electronic dartboard device for players to play a dart game.The electronic dartboard device includes an electronic dartboard 10, andthe electronic dartboard 10 includes a frame 11, a plurality of targetblocks 12, a limiting member 13 and a mounting seat 14.

The frame 11 includes a main frame portion 11A and a support portion 11Bprovided around the main frame portion 11A. The main frame portion 11Aincludes a grille that includes a plurality of partitions 111. Eachpartition 111 includes a block portion 111A and a dividing piece 111B.One side of the block 111A is close to the player, and an opposite sideof the block portion 111A is connected to the dividing piece 111B. Theblock portion 111A includes at least one extension 111 c. The partitions111 are arranged to define a plurality of accommodating spaces 112 foraccommodating the plurality of target blocks 12 respectively. Thesupport portion 11B of the frame 11 may include, for example, a markingarea 114A for setting labels 115. An edge 114B of the support portion11B may include, for example, at least one lug 114C, and each lug 114Cis provided with a hole H1 for insertion of a fastener. In thisembodiment or other embodiments, the support portion 11B may be furtherprovided with at least one hole H2 for insertion of at least onefastener F 1.

Each of the accommodating spaces 112 includes an opening 112A located ata side thereof and being close to the block portions 111A, and anopening 112B located at an opposite side thereof and facing the opening112A. Therefore, at the time of assembly, each of the target blocks 12can be placed into a corresponding one of the accommodating spaces 112from the opening 112B thereof, and the player can see the target block12 through the opening 112A of the accommodating space 112. The targetblock 12 can move freely in the corresponding accommodation space 112,and the extension 111 c of the block portion 111A located adjacent tothe opening 112A of the accommodation space 112 can prevent the targetblock 12 from falling out of the opening 112A.

After the target blocks 12 are placed into their correspondingaccommodating spaces 112, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the limitingmember 13 is detachably assembled to the frame 11 to form a firstassembly. In other words, the first assembly includes the frame 11, theabove-mentioned plurality of target blocks 12, and the limiting member13. In detail, the limiting member 13 includes a limiting portion 131and at least one fixing portion 132 disposed around the limiting portion131. The limiting portion 131 includes a first surface 131A adjacent tothe target blocks 12 and a second surface 131B opposite to the firstsurface 131A. In this embodiment, the limiting member 13 is detachablyassembled to the main frame portion 11A of the frame 11 through thefixing portion 132, so that the limiting portion 131 can cover theopenings 112B, thereby restricting the target blocks 12 within thecorresponding accommodating spaces 112 without falling out of theopening 112B, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment or otherembodiments, the projection area of the limiting member 13 is greaterthan the projection area of the main frame portion 11A in an example,and the projection area of the frame 11 is greater than the projectionarea of the limiting member 13 in an example; and however, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

After the first assembly is finished assembling, the first assembly canbe detachably assembled to the mounting seat 14 to form a secondassembly. That is, the second assembly includes the frame 11, theabove-mentioned plurality of target blocks 12, the limiting member 13and the mounting seat 14. More particularly, the mounting seat 14includes, for example, a base 141 and a sensing circuit 142 fordetecting whether the target block 12 is hit by a dart and determiningthe position of the target block 12 that has been hit, as shown in FIG.1A. The base 141 includes a recess, for example, and the sensing circuit142 in an example is detachably disposed on a bottom surface 141A of therecess. The bottom surface 141A of the recess may be provided with atleast one hole H3. The position of each perforation H3 corresponds tothe position of a corresponding one of the holes H2, so that thefastener F 1 can insert through the hole H3 after passing through thehole H2. A lateral edge 141B of the recess may be provided with at leastone notch 141C in an example, and at least one hole H4 may be providedon the bottom surface 141A adjacent to the notch 141C in an example. Thelocation of the hole H4 corresponds to the location of the hole H1 onone lug 114C of the frame 11 in an example, so that a fastener caninsert through the hole H4 after passing through the hole H1. Duringassembling, the first assembly can be at least partially received in therecess in the base 141, so that the second surface 131B of the limitingportion 131 of the limiting member 13 can be close to or even touch thesensing circuit 142, and then by inserting the fastener through the holeH1 in the lug 114C of the frame 11 and the hole H4 of the base 141 ofthe mounting seat 14 in sequence, the first assembly can be detachablylocked to the mounting seat 14. In this way, the second assembly can berelatively flat and beautiful in appearance after being assembled.

In this embodiment or other embodiments, the above-mentioned secondassembly may further include a decorative frame 15. In detail, the sizeof the decorative frame 15 may be slightly larger than the size of themounting seat 14, for example, and after the first assembly isdetachably assembled to the base 141, the decorative frame 15 may bedetachably assembled to the mounting seat 14 along the direction fromthe frame 11 to the mounting seat 14, so that the frame 11, the targetblocks 12 and the limiting member 13 are located between the decorativeframe 15 and the mounting seat 14, and the decorative frame 15 can atleast cover the fastener inserted in the hole H1 of the frame 11 and thehole H4 of the mounting seat 14, and the notch 141C of the mounting seat14.

When the second assembly is finished assembling, the player can playdart throwing games. An example of the operation of the electronicdartboard device during a dart game is described as follows. As shown inFIG. 7, each target block 12 includes a target block body 121 and atleast one contact portion 122. The target block body 121 includes afirst surface 1211 facing the player and the opening 112A, and a secondsurface 1212 opposite to the first surface 1211. The contact portion 122extends from the second surface 1212 of the target block body 121, andone end of the contact portion 122 away from the target block body 121is adjacent to the limiting member 13. When the player throws a dart 1to the electronic dartboard device and hits a target block 12, the dart1 will penetrate the first surface 1211 of the target block body 121 ofthe target block 12 and apply a force (namely, an external force) ontothe target block 12. Since the target block 12 is movably disposed inthe corresponding accommodating space 112 of the frame 11, the targetblock 12 that obtains this force will move toward the limiting member 13or even press the limiting portion 131 of the limiting member 13. Inthis embodiment, the limiting portion 131 of the limiting member 13 ismade of an elastic material, so that the pressed contact area T of thelimiting portion 131 will further contact the sensing circuit 142. Atthis time, the sensing circuit 142 detects the contact of the limitingportion 131 and, according to the position of the pressed area T,determines whether the target block 12 corresponding to the pressedcontact area T is hit, and determines the position of the target block12 that was hit. These determination results will be used for thesubsequent scoring program. The scoring program can be designedaccording to actual needs.

When any of the target blocks 12 needs to be replaced or the sensingcircuit 142 needs to be repaired, just separate the first assembly fromthe mounting seat 14 by detaching the decorative frame 15 from themounting seat 14 from the side of the electronic dartboard 10 facing theplayer, and then remove the fastener inserted in the hole H1 and thehole H4. Then, after the limiting member 13 is removed from the frame11, the target block 12 to be replaced can be taken out. Since the frame11 is provided with holes for assembling the frame 11 to the mountingseat 14, the first assembly can be detached from the mounting seat 14from the side of the electronic dartboard 10 facing the player withoutdamaging the electronic components in the sensing circuit 142.Furthermore, since the target blocks 12 are located between the frame 11and the limiting member 13, and the limiting member 13 is detachablyassembled to the frame 11, the target block 12 will not fall out of itscorresponding accommodating space 112 by itself during the process ofdetaching the first assembly from the mounting seat 14.

Although the above embodiment of FIG. 3 is explained based on anexemplary case where the fixing portion 132 is sleeve-shaped and theinner side of the fixing portion 132 is a plane, the fixing portion ofthe present invention is not limited to the above example. Theconfiguration and design of the fixing portion of the present inventioncan be any possible way, as long as the limiting member can bedetachably assembled to the frame 11, the limiting portion can cover anopening of at least one of the accommodating spaces 112, and the atleast one target block 12 disposed in the accommodating space 112 can beprevented from falling out of the accommodating space 112 by itself. Forexample, the overall limiting member can be made of an elastic material(such as silicone) and has a flat shape. Therefore, in detachablyassembling the limiting member to the frame 11, the limiting member canbe stretched first, and then directly sleeved onto the frame 11. At thistime, a part of the limiting member covering the range of the targetblock can be regarded as the limiting portion, and a part of thelimiting member sleeved on the frame 11 can be regarded as the fixingportion. For another example, as shown in FIG. 4, the limiting member13′ includes the limiting portion 131 and at least one fixing portion132′ connected to an edge of the limiting portion 131, and an engagingstructure 1321 (also referred to as a second engaging structure) isprovided on an inner surface (also referred to as a second surface) ofthe fixing portion 132′. The engaging structure 1321 may be, forexample, but not limited to, at least one projection such as a bump or arib, the projection abuts against the partition 111 of the main frameportion 11A to increase the frictional force of the fixing portion 132′contacting the frame 11, so that the limiting member 13′ is not easy tofall off the frame 11 by itself. For another example, as shown in FIG.5, an outer surface (also referred to as a first surface) of thepartition 111′ of the main frame portion 11A can be provided with anengaging structure (also referred to as a first engaging structure) 113corresponding to and matching the engaging structure 1321 on the innersurface of the fixing portion 132′. The engaging structure 113 may be,for example, at least one projection, such as a bump or a rib, or maybe, for example, at least one concave, such as a dot, a recess or agroove. Alternatively, the number of the fixing portions is plural, andthese fixing portions are separated from each other by a distance, andsurround the limiting portion, as long as the structures at the junctionbetween the fixing portion and the frame can correspond to each otherand cooperate with each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the number of thefixing portions 132″ is plural, and these fixing portions 132″ arespaced apart from each other and surround the limiting portion 131. Thefixing portions 132″ may be, for example, lugs, and each lug is providedwith a hole H5. A surface of the frame 11″ facing the limiting member13″ is also provided with a plurality of pins 116 respectivelycorresponding to the holes H5. In assembling the first assembly, thesepins 116 can be inserted through their corresponding holes H5respectively, so that the frame 11″ can be detachably assembled to thelimiting member 13″, and the target blocks 12 can be located between theframe 11″ and the limiting member 13″.

In addition, the above embodiment is provided based on an exemplary casewhere the frame 11 is provided with the lug 114C including the hole H1and the mounting seat 14 is provided with the notch 141C that canaccommodate the lug 114C and include the hole H4 corresponding to thehole H1; and however, the invention is not limited to this. In otherembodiments of the present invention, the frame may not need to beprovided with any lug for forming a hole, and the hole can be directlyformed in the support portion of the frame; and another hole is furtherdefined in the mounting seat corresponding to the hole of the frame.Therefore, the frame can be detachably assembled to the mounting seat,that is, the first assembly can be detachably assembled to the mountingseat, after a fastener is inserted into the two holes.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting seat of theelectronic dartboard device is disposed to a cabinet, so that theelectronic dartboard device can stand firmly at any desired position.Taking an electronic dartboard without a decorative frame and no lugs onthe frame as an example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first assembly 20 thathas been finished assembling can be assembled to a cabinet 30. The firstassembly 20 is substantially similar to the first assembly of theabove-mentioned embodiment, and the support portion 21B of the frame 21is provided with at least one hole H2′. For the rest of the structureand components, reference may be made to the above-mentionedembodiments, which will not be repeated here.

The cabinet 30 includes a cabinet seat 31 and a cover 32 pivotallyconnected to the cabinet seat 31. The cabinet seat 31 includes amounting seat 14′, and a sensing circuit (not shown) is provided on themounting seat 14′. For the function of the sensing circuit, referencemay be made to the related descriptions in the above embodiments, and nofurther description is provided here. At least one hole H6 is providedon the mounting seat 14′ and corresponds to the respective hole H2′. Inassembling the second assembly, that is, the first assembly 20 isdetachably assembled to the cabinet 30, the fasteners can be insertedthrough the holes H2′ of the frame 21 from the side of the frame 21facing the player and then through the holes H6 of the mounting seat14′, so that the first assembly 20 can be locked to the cabinet seat 31of the cabinet 30. Finally, the cover 32 of the cabinet 30 is closed tocomplete the assembling of the second assembly, that is, the assemblingof the electronic dartboard device.

Similarly, when any of the target blocks needs to be replaced or thesensing circuit needs to be repaired, the first assembly 20 can beremoved from the cabinet 30 by removing the fasteners out of the holesH2′ and H6 from the side of the frame 21 facing the player. Then, afterthe limiting member is removed from the first assembly 20, the targetblock to be replaced can be taken out. Since the frame 21 is providedwith the holes H2′ for insertion of the fasteners, the first assembly 20can be detached from the cabinet seat 31 from the side of the electronicdartboard device facing the player without damaging the electroniccomponents in the sensing circuit disposed in the cabinet seat 31.

In summary, the electronic dartboard device in accordance with thepresent invention is provided with a locking structure on the frame andthe locking structure can be used to assemble the frame to the mountingseat, so in the process of replacing the target block or repairing thesensing circuit, the frame and the target block can be detached from themounting seat from the side of the electronic dartboard device facingthe player without damaging the electronic components of the sensingcircuit, thereby extending the lifetime of the sensing circuit. On theother hand, the target blocks are arranged between the frame and thelimiting member to form the first assembly, so the target blocks willnot fall off from the accommodating spaces during the process ofremoving the first assembly body, which can considerably improve theefficiency in replacement of target blocks and maintenance of thesensing circuit.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic dartboard device comprising: aframe including at least one accommodating space with an opening; atleast one target block movably disposed in the at least oneaccommodating space; a limiting member including a limiting portion andat least one fixing portion disposed around the limiting portion,wherein the limiting portion includes a first surface and a secondsurface opposite to the first surface, the fixing portion is configuredto enable the limiting member to be detachably assembled to the framethrough the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers theopening, thereby restricting the at least one target block within the atleast one accommodating space; and a mounting seat including a sensingcircuit and detachably assembled to the frame and located at the secondsurface of the limiting portion, and the sensing circuit configured todetect a contact position of the at least one target block on thelimiting portion when an external force is applied to the at least onetarget block and forces the at least one target block to contact thefirst surface of the limiting portion.
 2. The electronic dartboarddevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing portion issleeve-shaped and surrounds the limiting portion.
 3. The electronicdartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the fixingportions is plural, and the fixing portions are separated from eachother by a distance and surround the limiting portion.
 4. The electronicdartboard device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the fixingportions is provided with a hole, the frame includes a surface facingthe limiting member and a plurality of pins on the surface, and the pinsrespectively correspond to the holes and are respectively configured toinsert into the holes of the fixing portions, so that the limitingmember is detachably assembled to the frame.
 5. The electronic dartboarddevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing portionincludes a surface for contacting the frame, and the surface is a plane.6. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the atleast one fixing portion includes a surface for contacting the frame,and the surface is provided with at least one projection, and when thelimiting member is detachably assembled to the frame, the projectionabuts against the frame.
 7. The electronic dartboard device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the frame includes a surface for contacting at leastone fixing portion, and the surface is provided with at least oneprojection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to theframe, the projection abuts against the at least one fixing portion. 8.The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frameincludes a first surface for contacting the at least one fixing portion,the at least one fixing portion includes a second surface for contactingthe frame, the first surface of the frame includes a first engagingstructure, the second surface of the fixing portion includes a secondengaging structure which corresponds to and matches the first engagingstructure, and when the first engaging structure is detachably connectedto the second engaging structure, the limiting member is detachablyassembled to the frame.
 9. The electronic dartboard device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein at least one of the limiting member and the at leastone fixing member is made of elastic material.
 10. The electronicdartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes amain frame portion and a support portion connected to the main frameportion, the at least one accommodating space is located in the mainframe portion, the limiting member is detachably assembled to the mainframe portion by the at least one fixing portion, and the supportportion is detachably assembled to the mounting seat.